The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially kicked off the hype train for the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 with the launch of its “All On The Line” campaign. And let’s just say, it’s not your average cricket promo.
Featuring a star-studded cast of Shaheen Afridi, Shadab Khan, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi, England’s Phil Salt, and India’s Hardik Pandya (who, let’s be honest, looked like he phoned it in from a greenscreen studio in Mumbai), the teaser is a Mission Impossible-style heist that’s as cheeky as it is action-packed.
The promo opens with Shaheen Afridi leading a covert operation to infiltrate a high-security vault. The vault, of course, is filled with lasers, motion sensors, and enough tension to rival a Super Over. The mission? To steal the Champions Trophy, the ultimate prize in cricket, along with the iconic white jackets awarded to the winners.
Shadab Khan plays the perfect sidekick, lowering Shaheen into the vault via an air vent in a scene that feels straight out of a Hollywood blockbuster. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya is seen acrobatically dodging lasers like he’s auditioning for the next Fast & Furious movie. Phil Salt makes a dramatic entrance, seemingly appearing out of thin air, while Mohammad Nabi takes the underground route.
Check it out:
Earlier today, ICC shared a promo that was a nod to WWE fans, with Shaheen, Shadab, and Phil Salt pulling off a fist bump in the style of The Shield.
But while the campaign has been widely praised for its creativity, it hasn’t escaped a bit of controversy—because, let’s face it, cricket and drama go hand in hand. Fans were quick to notice that Hardik Pandya’s appearance looked suspiciously like it was shot in front of a green screen. And given India’s recent history of flexing its influence over ICC decisions—like moving their matches to Dubai instead of Pakistan and reportedly objecting to the host nation’s name appearing on the Champions Trophy kit—it’s not exactly surprising that Pandya didn’t show up in person for the shoot.
The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, hosted by Pakistan, will run from February 19 to March 9, with four matches set to take place in the UAE. The tournament will feature the world’s top eight cricketing nations battling it out across 15 matches for the prestigious trophy.